{"id":2276,"date":"2016-04-11T17:04:40","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T17:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paulinemross.co.uk\/?p=2276"},"modified":"2016-04-11T17:04:40","modified_gmt":"2016-04-11T17:04:40","slug":"the-dragons-egg-prologue-and-chapters-1-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paulinemross.co.uk\/index.php\/2016\/04\/the-dragons-egg-prologue-and-chapters-1-2\/","title":{"rendered":"‘The Dragon’s Egg’: Prologue and Chapters 1-2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prologue: The Dragon’s Egg (Rak)<\/strong><\/h1>\n

There was no warning.<\/p>\n

The dragons burst into the sky just above Rak\u2019s head, their battle screeches shaking his very bones. He caught a glimpse of one scaly leg with claws as long as his arm before shock sent him rolling from his perch.<\/p>\n

Half slithering, half falling, heart thundering, he scrambled down to a hollow a few man-lengths below the ridge and threw himself behind the shelter of a large boulder. With luck, the dragons wouldn\u2019t notice him there. All he could hear above the rasping of his own breath was the clanking of the goats\u2019 bells far below. They were panicked, too.<\/p>\n

The sky above remained blue, unshadowed by dragon bulk, and he\u2019d heard no more bellows from them. Was he safe? He dared a peek from behind the boulder. They were still there, way below him now, grappling in mid-flight right above the beach. On the grassy slopes, goats ran this way and that in a bleating frenzy. No sign of Dernish. Rak hoped he\u2019d had time to get under a bush, out of sight.<\/p>\n

Rak always sat up on the ridge to eat his noon parcel. He loved the height, the windblown freshness of the air, the quiet solitude. The commanding view gave him a chance to see dragons occasionally, too, far out to sea. But never so close! Never right above his head like that, sneaking up from the valley on the far side of the ridge, so that he\u2019d never even seen them coming. What a tale he\u2019d have to tell!<\/p>\n

Now they were separating, the two great beasts, but still focused on their battle. A greenish one, and a slightly larger one, mottled\u00a0 brown and gold. Now that he\u2019d caught his breath a bit and was safely hidden away, he was curious. What was it about? He\u2019d heard of dragon fights, but they were just legends. Someone\u2019s great-grandmother had seen one once, or a traveller who\u2019d crossed Dragon\u2019s Point would tell lurid tales of wyrms fighting with such intensity that they tore each other to pieces. He\u2019d never thought to witness one himself.<\/p>\n

If he lived to tell of it at all. For now the two were coming back, flying low and fast up the hillside directly towards him, one chasing the other. The leading dragon clutched something in its claws \u2014 something round, glimmering.<\/p>\n

By the salt, they were getting close! Rak ducked down behind his boulder again and the dragons roared overhead, then shot directly upwards. The leader ducked and wove about to evade its fellow, but the pursuer was bigger and stronger. The green dragon was caught, and then they were spinning downwards again, their roars of anger echoing off the ridge.<\/p>\n

Rak could hardly breathe, but he couldn\u2019t draw his eyes away. Down, down they went, tumbling over and over. Surely they must smash into the rocks at the foot of the slope? At the last minute they separated, wings out, straining for height. The smaller dragon turned for the sea, but the larger one snapped at its tail and the smaller one spun round, belching fire at the aggressor, claws out to defend itself.<\/p>\n

Something dropped, sparkling as it fell end over end in the sunlight. A splash near the beach. The green dragon realised its error, diving vertically downwards, but the brown one was beside it in moments, nipping its tail again. The fight was on once more, the lost treasure forgotten in the heat of battle. Gradually they edged out over the water, as the green dragon tried to make its escape and the brown pursued. It caught up, they scuffled and split apart, over and over.<\/p>\n

Rak watched the dragons until they were no more than specks on the horizon, two specks, then one, then two again. Gradually his hammering heart slowed, and his breath became more even. Only when his eyes couldn\u2019t make them out, no matter how hard he strained, did he feel it was safe to emerge from the security of his boulder, and descend to the strand.<\/p>\n

Some of the goats were already ambling back, although not as many as there should be. Rak sighed. They would be all over the dunes by now. It would take him and Dernish all afternoon to collect them together again, and they would be late back to the holding and ma would be so cross. But where was his brother?<\/p>\n

Ah, there, at the edge of the sea, up to his knees in water. And carrying something \u2014 the dragon\u2019s treasure!<\/p>\n

Rak raced down the last stretch of slope to the shore, weaving between the great boulders collected there. Some were taller than he was, testament to the power of the winter storms here, which brought them crashing down from the heights above. Then a short strip of smooth grass, speckled with wind-tossed summer blooms, and up and over the dunes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoy!\u201d Dernish was walking slowly up the beach. \u201cLook what I\u2019ve found!\u201d<\/p>\n

Rak skidded down the last dune, and ran across to him. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe dragon dropped it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn egg!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Rak gazed at it in awe. It was half his height, at least. Dernish was almost an adult now, but he struggled to carry it. It looked like pale green marble, the narrower end smooth, the wider covered with overlapping scales of the same colour. When he touched it, there was a slight tingle. It felt warm, not cold.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill it hatch, do you think?\u201d Dernish said, grinning.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it needs dragon fire for that. Beside, what would we do with a live dragon? It would eat us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt might eat you<\/em>,\u201d Dernish said. \u201cIt\u2019s my egg, so it would be my dragon. It would obey me, and I could fly all over the place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRubbish,\u201d Rak said. \u201cOnly the mages could fly them.\u201d Although he wasn\u2019t sure that was true, for who had not heard the legend of Melroor, the fisherman who had enchanted a dragon? \u201cMages and\u2026 and special<\/em> people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m special,\u201d Dernish said, puffing his chest out. \u201cI\u2019m Dernish the Eggfinder now. I\u2019ll be famous in every kyle and holding. People will come from all over to meet me and see my egg.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you may be Dernish the Eggfinder, but you\u2019re still Dernish the Goatherd, too, and we have some work to do. I\u2019ll take this side, and you can take the other side.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dernish laughed merrily. \u201cFine. I\u2019ll leave my egg here for now.\u201d He hollowed out a patch of sand, and carefully placed the egg upright. \u201cRight. Let\u2019s get these goats rounded up as quick as we can. I can\u2019t wait to get back to the holding to show them my egg. Won\u2019t everyone be surprised!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 1: Cranna’s Holding (Marisa)<\/strong><\/h1>\n

SIXTY YEARS LATER<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The carter dropped Marisa at the end of the lane. She walked slowly up between the fields, noticing from long habit the grains growing tall and green, and the roots thriving at last after their poor start. The geese round the pond honked as she passed by, and in her mind she picked out a fine, plump one for the pot next rest day. Might as well have a good meal before the journey.<\/p>\n

Her hip was aching again. She tried not to limp, but it always bothered her after she\u2019d been down to the kyle. Too much walking. Well, she might as well get used to it. She\u2019d be doing quite a bit these next few quarter moons, unless they got lucky.<\/p>\n

Rak was picking berries for their supper. He waved cheerfully at her, holding up the bowl to show her how many he\u2019d found, spilling a few. He wasn\u2019t fit enough for field work any more, but he liked to help out. She smiled affectionately. He was a good man, and he\u2019d stepped in and been a good father to her after the fire. Better than Dernish ever had been, truth to tell.<\/p>\n

The holding always looked shabby when she\u2019d been away. The low stone cottages with their scruffy turf roofs, and the peeling paint on the doors and windows were bad enough, but was the goat barn actually leaning? She would have to see about that, when she got back.<\/p>\n

Lissanda saw her coming, and emerged from the cookhouse, wiping floury hands on a cloth. \u201cWell, ma?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll talk about it after supper, when everyone\u2019s there,\u201d Marisa said. \u201cWhere\u2019s Dru?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWatching the chickens.\u201d Lissanda sighed with an exaggerated lift of the shoulders.<\/p>\n

Marisa laughed. \u201cWell, she can\u2019t come to any harm there.\u201d Then she saw Lissanda\u2019s face. \u201cCan she?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe let them out yesterday. They were up in the trees \u2014 all over the place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy ever did she do that? She knows how much work that causes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe said<\/em> they asked her to.\u201d Lissanda rolled her eyes. \u201cBut don\u2019t worry. Mattan\u2019s keeping an eye on her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat spirits!\u201d Marisa said. \u201cShe\u2019s getting worse, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut at least she hasn\u2019t set the place on fire again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lissanda went back to her dough, but Marisa dropped her travel bag at her cottage and walked through the orchard to the chicken run. Mattan was in the oldest apple tree, almost at the top. Oh, to be eight years old again, and agile enough to climb trees! Marisa smiled at him, and he waved and pointed to the chicken run just ahead.<\/p>\n

Dru was looking through the gap in the gate where the wood had rotted. She was sitting on her heels, hands resting in her lap, motionless. Only her eyes flickered with life, fixed unblinking on the chickens in the pen. And, oddly, they were quiet, not busily scratching and pecking and fussing as usual. It was as if they were staring back at Dru.<\/p>\n

\u201cOff talking to the sprites,\u201d\u00a0 Dakkish always said when she got like this. He had no time for her, none at all. Thought they should send her to the kyle, let them deal with her. \u201cShe doesn\u2019t even look<\/em> normal,\u201d he\u2019d say when she did something even stranger than usual.<\/p>\n

Well, that was true enough. Dru\u2019s skin was so pale and thin, you could see the blue veins showing through. All those hours in the fields, yet she never went a healthy brown. And her hair as fine and silky as the fur on the barn cats, but it never seemed to grow much.<\/p>\n

\u201cDru? What are you doing, flower?\u201d Marisa used her gentlest voice.<\/p>\n

No answer. Not the slightest indication that Dru was even aware of her.<\/p>\n

Marisa sighed, and tried again, a little louder. A waste of time, of course. When Dru was lost in her own thoughts like this, she heard nothing. Marisa stretched out a hand, and, with the tip of one finger, touched the girl\u2019s cheek.<\/p>\n

With a gasp, Dru jumped as if stung. For a moment, her eyes darkened, then slowly she settled back down on her heels, looking through the gap at the chickens. Motionless, not even blinking. Such a strange child. Although she wasn\u2019t really a child, despite the rounded face and flat chest. She was thirty and more, now, although how much more was anyone\u2019s guess.<\/p>\n

\u201cDru?\u201d<\/p>\n

This time she turned her head. Eyes flickering. Then, a blink. \u201cMa. You\u2019re back.\u201d That flat tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye. Just arrived. How are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing, Dru?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cListening to the chickens, ma.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre they saying much?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot much, not today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill you come inside, flower? Lissanda will need you for the supper.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSupper\u2026\u201d After a moment she pushed herself to her feet. \u201cI\u2019ll help Lissanda with the supper.\u201d<\/p>\n

And she walked off without a backward glance.<\/p>\n

Supper was an awkward affair. Everyone wanted to hear Marisa\u2019s news, but the proper time was after the meat, while the pie was being handed round. The pies were always good at this time of year, rich with juicy fruit. Rak had done well. Marisa took a good slice, and handed the dish to Lissanda. Once the dishes had been passed all the way to the bottom of both long tables, Marisa stood and limped up to the head of the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe newsteller has not been through recently, so there is no news from up the coast. At the kyle, Dorrom the Roper has finally died, and his place on the kylerand has gone to his youngest son, Hibbin. There was a small fire at the women\u2019s house, but there was no damage, and the women were not hurt.\u201d That brought some smiles. Several of the men had\u00a0 favoured women there. \u201cThe herrings are coming in, and the catch is better this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

There were a few nods of interest, but most people were waiting for Marisa\u2019s most important news.<\/p>\n

She hesitated, pondering her words carefully, trying to soften the blow. Dru had no idea, none at all. But there was no avoiding it. Best get it over with.<\/p>\n

\u201cI talked to the kylerand about Dru,\u201d she said. \u201cThey agreed that\u2026 something needs to be done, but there is no place suitable at the kyle for Dru\u2019s particular circumstances. They suggested that I take her to the Guardian. She will know what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

A buzz of chatter, everyone surprised \u2014 no, shocked. No one had expected it. Only one person showed no reaction \u2014 Dru herself.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow are you to get to the Keep?\u201d Dakkish said. Dru\u2019s head came up, as Marisa had known it would. \u201cIt\u2019s a terrible long step, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kylerand has given me tokens for the journey. Cart to Hammer Rock, then by ship.\u201d<\/p>\n

The discussion dissolved into twenty separate strands, working out the practicalities of such a long journey. Marisa retrieved her slice of pie, and carried the plate down the table to squeeze in beside Dru near the end of the women\u2019s table.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you understand that, flower? I\u2019m to take you to the Guardian. She\u2019s a wise lady, a book-reader. She\u2019ll know how best to help you. But it will be a long journey for us, all the way up the coast to the Keep, where she lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dru\u2019s eyes flickered. \u201cWhere is my keeper?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSweetie, I don\u2019t know,\u201d she replied, as she had a hundred times before. \u201cI have no idea what you mean by that. But if anyone can answer you, it will be the Guardian.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later, Marisa went in search of Rak. He was up on the roof of one of the cottages, stretched out on the turf, chewing his leaf thoughtfully. The other men were clustered under the big old pear tree, laughing and pretend-arguing and teasing any of the young women who came too close. But Rak liked to get up high, away from the rabble.<\/p>\n

There was a time when he could run up any of the cottage roofs, and the barns, too, but nowadays he confined himself to the ones that huddled low to the sloping ground at the back, so it was no more than a step or two up. Marisa was able to reach his perch quite easily.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo,\u201d she said, plopping down beside him. \u201cTell me again the story of the dragon\u2019s egg.\u201d<\/p>\n

He sat up, eyes twinkling. \u201cI think you know it as well as I do, niece. Nothing to add to the tale now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUncle, I\u2019m serious. I need to know for sure. If it\u2019s true, I mean. I\u2019ll have to tell the Guardian, and I don\u2019t want to be repeating lies to her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you believe it?\u201d<\/p>\n

She hesitated a moment too long. \u201cOf course, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt all came from Dernish,\u201d she burst out. \u201cEvery word of it. You<\/em> never talked about it, not once in all these years. So naturally I wondered and\u2026 and I don\u2019t like to speak so of my own father, but he was not the most reliable of men.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, that\u2019s true enough,\u201d Rak said. He spat noisily from the roof, pinging something metal below. \u201cDo you remember the time he went to Hammer Rock? Just for the adventure of it, he said. And when he came back \u2014 when he eventually <\/em>came back, a great deal poorer than he went, it took quarter moons to weasel out of him what had happened. And do you remember the story he told?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich one? There were so many\u2026 oh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rak smirked at her, point made.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, I see.\u201d She nodded, lips lifting into a smile. \u201cHe always told the same story of the dragon\u2019s egg.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rak stretched out on the turf again. \u201cGood night, niece.\u201d<\/p>\n

~~~~~<\/p>\n

Marisa quickly tired of the cart. The ironmonger had agreed to take them for nothing but the pleasure of her company, he\u2019d said. Since he was going all the way to Hammer Rock eventually, it had seemed like a good arrangement. Better than walking. But all his pots and tools rattled and clanged about until her head throbbed. And then he stopped at every holding along the way, and it seemed that there was always some work for him to do, so they had to wait until the bucket was mended or a new cooking chain made up.<\/p>\n

He joked and flirted with her, of course, but he\u2019d done that since she\u2019d first braided her hair. He was handsome enough in those days, and she\u2019d even had a little business going on with him for a while. But then she\u2019d met her fine young fisherman, tall and fair, with those twinkling eyes, as blue and deep as the sea, and that was that. Even though she\u2019d been tied to Henyon when she became Holder, she\u2019d only ever had one true love.<\/p>\n

Dru seemed to enjoy the journey, as far as anyone could tell with her. She looked about, eyes flickering this way and that, with apparent interest. Marisa had pointed out landmarks at first, and Dru had nodded solemnly. They\u2019d soon gone beyond Marisa\u2019s knowledge, though, and the ironmonger knew little more, even though he passed that way several times a year.<\/p>\n

The road changed as they drew near to Hammer Rock. The rutted dirt tracks became smooth stones, so that the cart jolted less and the clanking diminished. So many people! The fields crowded close to the road, and stretched away into the distance, nothing but ripening grain and fat cattle as far as the eye could see. And the holdings so neat and tidy, with tiles on their roofs, and some of the cottages as tall as a kyle house.<\/p>\n

Hammer Rock was everything people said about it: noisy, dirty, smelly, busy and, most of all, tall. Marisa was used to cottages that crouched low to the ground, huddling out of the ever-present wind. Here, the buildings stretched up to the sky itself, so that walking amongst them was like being in a deep ditch, with the sunlight and air far above, out of reach. It was stifling.<\/p>\n

For five days they squatted in a cheap inn by the harbour, avoiding the drunks and the rowdy inhabitants of the women\u2019s house next door, while they waited for a ship to take them north. They had to work their passage, since only the wealthy could travel at leisure, but Marisa was glad to have something to keep her hands busy, and to keep Dru out of the way of other folk. A few hours in the galley each morning earned them their food, and, knowing something of the reputation of seafaring folk, she\u2019d brought some hard-earned silver to pay for a tiny cabin for the two of them.<\/p>\n

She needn\u2019t have worried. On the first day aboard, the sailors made their customary offerings of food and small coins to the Goddess and the sprites to ensure a safe journey. Fascinated, Dru had gone close to watch. When they leaned over the rail to throw their gifts into the waves, she tore the beads from her hair and tossed them overboard too.<\/p>\n

The sailors were delighted. \u201cAh, the sprites will be pleased with those, little lady,\u201d one said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, they are,\u201d she replied. \u201cThey like the pretty colours and the way they sparkle. But they like the food best. They thank you for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

After that, she was revered like a minor deity. Talking to sprites was very lucky on a ship, it seemed. Although, when they asked her later what the sprites thought about some matter, she\u2019d said, \u201cNo sprites here.\u201d That had puzzled them greatly.<\/p>\n

There were only a few other passengers. A wealthy merchant family was taking a son to be married at a town in the far north. A few people in worker\u2019s clothing got on at one port and off at the next. A widow was going to live with a niece. None of them took any notice of Marisa or Dru. The sailors, by contrast, were inclined to be too friendly, but Marisa knew how to deal with that.<\/p>\n

One passenger was different, with a knowing smile and a greeting whenever he met them. He looked to be in his thirties, short for a man, but with the sort of muscles that came from a sword or bow. Although he was plainly dressed, he did no work on the ship, so Marisa marked him as wealthy. Perhaps he was just being friendly, but there was a roguish look in his eye that warned her off. With anyone from a neighbouring holding or the kyle she\u2019d have understood him at once, but a stranger\u2019s ways could mean anything. Just as well to be cautious. So she nodded politely when he spoke, but avoided conversation. It was rude, perhaps, but in a matter of days they would be ashore, and never see him again.<\/p>\n

One morning, the cabin girl woke them early. \u201cCap\u2019n\u2019s respects, Mis\u2019ess, but Keep\u2019s in sight.\u201d<\/p>\n

They dressed quickly and hurried up to the deck.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere,\u201d the captain said, pointing. \u201cCan ye see it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Far away, a dark shape jutting into the sea. Hard to tell from that distance what was rock and what was building.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye. I see something, at any rate.\u201d<\/p>\n

He laughed, beard rocking in rhythm. \u201c\u2019T\u2019is far off still. We\u2019ll not be there before noon, I reckon.\u201d<\/p>\n

He went off to see about ship matters, but Marisa stayed on deck, as the dark shape grew larger by imperceptible stages, and resolved itself into a promontory, several rocky outcrops, and a squat black shape on one of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee that, flower?\u201d Marisa said. \u201cThat\u2019s where we\u2019re going. The Keep. Where the Guardian lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dru turned darkening eyes on her. \u201cWhere is my keeper?\u201d<\/p>\n

Marisa had never had an answer to that question, no matter how many times it was asked. \u201cIt\u2019s a big place, isn\u2019t it? Do you see it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see it,\u201d Dru said, in her flat voice.<\/p>\n

As they drew close, the size of the promontory and the Keep itself became apparent. It loomed over the harbour in the little bay below, a mass of towers and turrets and spires. Its black stone glistened in the summer sunshine as if it was frosted, and glass shone in hundreds of windows.\u00a0 Marisa had never seen any building so big.<\/p>\n

The sun was beginning its fall when they docked at the Keep\u2019s small harbour. This was a very different place from Hammer Rock, with its warehouses and taverns and women\u2019s houses jostling along the wharves, and fishing boats tied up five deep at every pontoon. The Guardian\u2019s harbour was a neat square of jetties with cranes for unloading, and a single large warehouse to one side. Uniformed workers moved about purposefully, unloading goods from a handful of ships onto lines of identically painted wagons.<\/p>\n

They waited with their small travel bags, watching the ropes being thrown and the agile sailors clambering along the side of the ship. They were not the only ones waiting to disembark. The friendly young man emerged on deck carrying a pair of travel rolls, and something that looked suspiciously like a sword, neatly parcelled up. So he was going to the Keep, too. He saw Marisa looking and waved, a broad grin on his face.<\/p>\n

She hesitated. Well, if he was a visitor to the Keep as well, it would be churlish to ignore him. She couldn\u2019t quite bring herself to smile, but she nodded acknowledgement. Annoyingly, his grin widened.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, the captain appeared to bid them farewell.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll be able to get a ride to the Keep on one of the wagons.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there an inn nearby?\u201d Marisa said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNay, the Guardian keeps a guest hall. You\u2019ll get a room there. The wagoners will show you where to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

A guest hall? That sounded very grand. She said nothing, her heart slowly sinking. It was all so different from home, whether holding or kyle. Different even from Hammer Rock. Now that the moment had come, it was a dreadfully daunting prospect. Why had she ever thought she could do this alone?<\/p>\n

Still, it must be done, for Dru\u2019s sake. She lifted her chin. \u201cThank you for the information, Captain, and for your kindness to us, being strangers to you. Dru, say farewell to the captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFarewell, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMay the Goddess smile on you, child. And perhaps you\u2019ll ask the sprites for good winds for us, next time you talk to them, eh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will. Next time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two sailors carried their bags to the waiting wagons. Marisa stepped ashore, holding Dru\u2019s hand tightly. Now for the difficult part.<\/p>\n

She could only hope that the Guardian believed her story.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0Chapter 2: The Keep (Garrett)<\/strong><\/h1>\n

\u201cUp, up, up!\u201d I yelled. \u201cGood, much better. Light feet, remember. Keep moving, and keep those arms up. Oh, nice one, now in again\u2026 but I saw that one coming. Try to take me by surprise, otherwise I\u2019ll just keep pushing\u2026 like this\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

At which point the hapless boy stumbled backwards over his own feet, landed hard on his rear and the sword flew out of his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Captain, sorry. I almost got it that time. Can I try again?\u201d<\/p>\n

I had to laugh at his enthusiasm. \u201cMaybe tomorrow, Mikah, but I can see your archery instructor waiting to reclaim you. Off you go now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir. Thank you, sir.\u201d He raced off across the training court, weaving between pairs of grunting, sword-waving men with the ease of one born to it. Such a pity he was less adept with his hands. The boy would perhaps do better with a bow, short as he was, but I admired his perseverance. As a youth myself, I\u2019d struggled every day to overcome my own lack of height, so it was only fair to help the boy do the same.<\/p>\n

Retrieving the practice sword, I headed back to the armoury, but the garrison commander waved me over before I got there. Actually, not waved, no. The man would never exert himself so much. A raised eyebrow and a slight shift of the head, no more than that, but it was enough. Instantly I was wary. I wasn\u2019t part of the garrison, so the commander couldn\u2019t give me orders, but he could still make life difficult for me if he chose. I wasn\u2019t quite sure why the commander disliked me so much \u2014 there were several possible reasons, all equally plausible \u2014 but there wasn\u2019t much I could do about any of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommander.\u201d<\/p>\n

The commander looked up and down at my no doubt dishevelled, sweaty appearance, before smoothing an imaginary crease from his own perfectly pressed trousers. He was a head taller than I was, with an angular face, the nose thin and sharp like the prow of a ship. \u201cGarrett. It is your lucky day. She wishes to see you at three bells falling.\u201d He flicked the piece of paper in his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cMay I?\u201d I said, holding out my hand for the order.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo need. I have informed you of the salient point. Another trip for you, doubtless.\u201d<\/p>\n

I hated that false tone of voice, so irritatingly amicable, almost jovial, but the effect was spoilt by the way he looked down his nose at me. Oh, for another handspan or three in height, to be able to look the irritating bastard in the eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally? So soon? I only got back yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd now perhaps you will be leaving us once more. Such<\/em> a shame.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is indeed.\u201d It was a blow. I\u2019d hoped for a moon or two to rest before setting off again. \u201cBut I have to do what I\u2019m told, and go where I\u2019m sent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you say so,\u201d the commander said. \u201cI daresay someone has to do such work, but I do not think I would care much for it myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

I ignored the taunt. The sneers about my work were rather amusing. \u201cRemind me \u2014 was it two bells falling or three?\u201d<\/p>\n

As I\u2019d hoped, he glanced down at the paper in his hand. In a heartbeat I shifted my perspective to see through his eyes. Such a useful talent to have, the ability to see another person\u2019s view of the world. I\u2019d used it to find out all sorts of secrets, which was handy in any number of ways. And it was profitable, too, in the gaming houses. It had got me into trouble more than once, though, when I was accused of cheating. I didn\u2019t think of it as cheating, really, just a tilting of the odds in my favour. But some folk take exception to that, and so my life had turned out a little differently from how I\u2019d expected.<\/p>\n

I rarely used my ability for profit nowadays, but there were still times when I needed to see through another man\u2019s eyes, and this was one of them. The commander had caught me out once before by giving me the wrong time for a meeting. I\u2019d been late and the Lady had not been pleased, not at all. So now I looked through his eyes, and scanned the order he held. I wasn\u2019t a fast reader, but such orders were made to a standard format and I knew where to look for the time. Three bells. Astonishingly, he\u2019d told me the truth for a change.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour mind is weak, Garrett. Three bells falling. Do not be late.\u201d<\/p>\n

I made a small bowing motion \u2014 not enough to be mistaken for genuine respect, but enough to forestall any complaints about rudeness \u2014 and made my escape.<\/p>\n

Straight after second table, I went to my rooms. Rummaging about in boxes and closets produced my set of decent clothes, and then it was down to the bathing pool for a good scrub with scented soap. It wouldn\u2019t do to be less than immaculate when entering the Lady\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n

The ritual \u2014 washing, and then dressing in my best clothes \u2014 helped me prepare my mind for the encounter, too. With anyone else, I needn\u2019t worry too much about my accent, or whether I\u2019d got the right amount of formality when talking to people. But the Lady demanded more of me. For her, I made the effort to look and speak like a noble, even though she knew exactly where I came from.<\/p>\n

The entrance to the Great Tower was behind a vast circular waiting room, with polished floor and pillars, and long marble seats arranged in curving rows. Two hundred people could wait there without crowding, although they wouldn\u2019t have been very comfortable, since there were no cushions. However, there were no crowds to suffer the inconveniences of the room. It was empty, as usual, apart from the secretary waiting at a small wooden desk at the far side.<\/p>\n

I marched across the expanse of marble, the heels of my best boots clicking, and strode up to the desk. I didn\u2019t even need to speak. I was recognised, my name was checked on the list, I was waved onwards, through an archway and into the lifting device. Chains clanked, the device swayed a little and up I went. I had no idea how it worked, but if it saved the effort of climbing endless flights of stairs, I was glad of it.<\/p>\n

The device carried me almost to the top of the tower. Only the Lady\u2019s private apartments were higher than this level. The lifting device opened directly into the real waiting room, a much more comfortable place, with thick rugs and draperies, padded chairs and numerous wall-hangings depicting far-flung parts of the world. One was new since my last visit.<\/p>\n

It was annoying to find Shakara waiting there too, smirking at me. I couldn\u2019t think of a single reason for her presence. She was a steward, concerned only with domestic matters. It was impossible to imagine her having anything to do with one of my projects. A dreadful thought: perhaps I<\/em> was to be dragged into her<\/em> work. But surely not. I couldn\u2019t think of anything I was less suited for. Was I to be penned down in the cellar, counting flasks of oil or sacks of flour? Impossible.<\/p>\n

To avoid having to look at her, I stood before the new hanging, studying the detail. It showed a rocky shore with a long promontory stretching out into stormy seas, and the tip of a tower part way along it. In the foreground, a harbour was full of ships of various shapes and sizes.<\/p>\n

The hour bells were just sounding when the two of us were called in. My spirits lifted, as they always did in her<\/em> presence. The Guardian was her official title, but everyone called her the Lady. There was something magical about her, something that drew the eye and commanded respect. She wasn\u2019t beautiful, not in the conventional way, but she had a certain majesty about her. Her bearing, perhaps, or her penetrating intelligence, or maybe it was merely the aura of power.<\/p>\n

The room was perfectly designed for her. The wooden wall panels painted in soft colours, the light furniture, simple but elegant, the splashes of vibrant colour in a rug or a vase or a screen. At one end, a pair of large desks where she and a secretary dealt with each day\u2019s papers. To one side, low tables and dainty chairs for informal meetings. And at the far end, floor to ceiling windows set into the curve of the tower wall, with that glorious view of coast and sea.<\/p>\n

The best part of the view was perched on the end of the promontory, the reason for the Keep and the Guardian and all of us to be here: a slender tower, without windows or doors, which glowed with its own mysterious power. For hundreds of years the Guardian \u2014 a succession of Guardians \u2014 had sat in this greater tower, watching the smaller one no more than a thousand paces away, and waiting. Waiting for someone to arrive who could unlock the mystery and open the tower, revealing the treasures within. But no one had come.<\/p>\n

The Lady always stood before the massive windows to receive guests, so that she was lit from behind by the westering light. On a grey winter\u2019s day she would appear in striking silhouette, but today, with the sun falling in a clear sky, a shining halo gave her the appearance of a Goddess.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, Steward Shakara. And Master Garrett. Do come in.\u201d She said it as if it was a surprise to see us there, as if she hadn\u2019t commanded our attendance. She wore blue today, a gently muted colour, the gown plain silk, a delicate lace cap over her soft brown curls, and a single silver chain glinting around her neck, with no other ornamentation or jewels. But then she needed none.<\/p>\n

Shakara bowed in her northern way, straight-backed, bending only the knees and head. She was getting a little stiff about it these days. That would have amused me, except that she was only six years older than I was. I executed my preferred wide sweep of the arms, bending at the waist.<\/p>\n

When we rose, the Lady waved us to chairs already arranged within the curve of the windows, she to one side, the two of us facing her. I had that magnificent view to my left, but I wasn\u2019t tempted to look at it. I didn\u2019t want her to think I allowed my attention to wander in her presence.<\/p>\n

There were no pleasantries, that wasn\u2019t her way. \u201cI have two people in my guest hall requesting an audience, an older woman and a younger. However, they will tell the Hallmaster nothing of the reason, except that the younger woman is special<\/em> in some way. There is a long story behind it, apparently, and the older woman says that she will only tell the story to me, because it might not be conveyed truly. The younger woman says nothing at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

She spoke quietly, but then she\u2019d never needed to raise her voice in her life.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaster Garrett,\u201d she went on, her eyes turned fully on me, making me sit a little straighter. She was so respectful, always calling me Master<\/em>, as if I were someone of importance. Not like the commander, who treated me like something nasty he\u2019d stepped in. \u201cYou arrived on the same ship with them. Did you talk to them?\u201d<\/p>\n

Since yesterday, I\u2019d not thought of them at all. A strange pair, the woman who\u2019d snubbed me and the girl with eyes too big for her face. I\u2019d come up in the wagons with them, we\u2019d stopped in the outer yard, the two of them had clambered down from their perch and vanished into the guest hall without a backward glance. And they were gone from my mind just as quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they spoke to no one, apart from the captain, and their cabin girl. They kept to themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDescribe them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe older woman is middle-aged, more than fifty summers\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cForty eight.\u201d<\/p>\n

I raised an eyebrow. \u201cReally? Well, these outdoors women wear out quickly. A suspicious nature, not open. Not terrified to be on a long journey, so I would say she is used to a position of authority. A kylerander or holder, perhaps, or a craft leader. The girl\u2026 odd looking. Very pale, even paler than Shakara, and huge eyes. I would guess ten or twelve by the face, but she is over tall for a child. Taller than me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would not be difficult,\u201d Shakara murmured, but the Lady quelled her with a look.<\/p>\n

I was too used to the insult to take any notice. \u201cSimple-minded. The sailors loved her because she talked to the sprites.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid she indeed? Curious. And apparently she has thirty summers.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was a shock. \u201cThirty? No, surely not. There is nothing womanly about her at all, in shape or ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Lady nodded. \u201cSo the Hallmaster said. Would you say she was special<\/em>, Master Garrett?\u201d<\/p>\n

I took a moment to arrange my answer. \u201cI saw no sign of it, but then I hardly looked at the girl. I only boarded the ship at Greenling Bay, after all. I saw them twice at table, and once on deck. It is not much on which to form an opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n

I never knew quite how far I could go with the Lady, even now. She liked my forthrightness, I knew that, right up to the point when she slapped me down.<\/p>\n

Today her lips quirked. \u201cTrue enough. I too need a little more to go on before I talk to them myself. I should like to know more of their true purpose in coming here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSurely it is obvious?\u201d Shakara said. \u201cThe mother wants to leave the simple-minded daughter here where she will be safe. But she believes she has to have a reason for you to accept her, so she pretends that she is special in some way.\u201d<\/p>\n

I nodded. I hated to agree with Shakara, but usually in such cases the simplest explanation turned out to be the true one. Not special<\/em>, just different.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps. The whole coast knows that I will accept such people, if they are harmless and can be useful. However, after the incident two years ago, we must be circumspect, especially with Sister bringing the babes from the homeland. We cannot take risks, not now. So I should like both of you to get to know them, and see if you can find out more about them. I have chosen you two because you both speak the southern dialect. Steward, since they must stay here for a while, they may wish to be useful, so offer them employment within your domain. You can observe them covertly that way. Master Garrett, you may exert your charms on them, and see if that bears fruit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Well, that might be amusing, and liven up an otherwise dull assignment. \u201cHow much charm do you wish me to exert, Lady?\u201d<\/p>\n

Shakara snorted in derision, but the Lady answered solemnly, \u201cAs much as you care to. Steward, you may leave now.\u201d<\/p>\n

She swished out, skirts swaying. Probably she imagined it was provocative, but I\u2019d never been tempted. I had plenty of better prospects elsewhere, when I wished, and no need to wake to Shakara\u2019s sour face.<\/p>\n

The Lady sat immobile as the door clicked shut, and then the clank of the lifting mechanism sounded. Only then did she rise, and walk across to the window.<\/p>\n

\u201cPour me some of the green.\u201d<\/p>\n

I went to the side table where the wine decanters were lined up \u2014 three kinds of red, a green and even some amber, although she seldom drank that. I poured some of the green wine into a glass, and carried it across to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see you have the new wall hanging up,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

She spun round. \u201cAh, you noticed. I thought you would. I have never seen a representation of the southern coast before, so tell me, is it accurate?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, very.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEven the ships? They seemed a strange mixture to me, some very large, yet some rather small and slender.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe large ones are to catch whales. The small ones are sword ships, as the locals call them. Light and swift and deadly. For defence, since they have no army to speak of.\u201d<\/p>\n

She raised an eyebrow at that. \u201cShips for defence? We could do with some of those further north, to keep the raiders at bay.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was right about that. The reports were getting worryingly frequent.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, you are discreet in front of Steward Shakara, but let us talk freely about these women. Is there anything else you observed about them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only odd thing is that I can\u2019t see through the girl\u2019s eyes. The woman is easy, and there is no sign of magic in her. But the girl \u2014 nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCurious. She is certainly unusual, and that interests me. But I want you to be careful with these two. I do not want you getting heavy-handed, is that clear?\u201d<\/p>\n

An indignant response rose to my lips, but I swallowed it down. I was good at my work, that was beyond doubt, but there had been one or two unfortunate incidents. I nodded my acquiescence.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really think she might be special<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n

For answer, she strode across to her desk, and unrolled a large map, with the Keep at the top, and every town and kyle marked. \u201cLook, here is Greenling Bay, where you boarded your ship. This port here, Hammer Rock, is where they boarded.\u201d Her finger moved almost to the bottom of the map. \u201cAnd their kyle is some way beyond that, even.\u201d<\/p>\n

I understood at once. \u201cThat is practically at Dragon\u2019s Point.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo far south!\u201d<\/p>\n

She laughed. I\u2019d rarely seen her so excited. \u201cThis one has real possibilities. So I do not<\/em> want you scaring them off, Garrett. On the other hand, sometimes crazy people are just crazy, and dangerous, too, so take it slowly. You are to treat this the same way you would treat any other special<\/em> investigation. Do you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n

I did. Perhaps this one could be the real thing at last.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Prologue: The Dragon’s Egg (Rak) There was no warning. The dragons burst into the sky just above Rak\u2019s head, their battle screeches shaking his very bones. He caught a glimpse of one scaly leg with claws as long as his arm before shock sent him rolling from his perch. Half slithering, half falling, heart thundering, he scrambled down to a hollow a few man-lengths below the ridge and threw himself behind the shelter of a large boulder. With luck, the dragons wouldn\u2019t notice him there. All he could hear above the rasping of his own breath was the clanking of the goats\u2019 bells far below. They were panicked, too. The sky above remained blue, unshadowed by dragon bulk, and he\u2019d heard no more bellows from them. Was he safe? He dared a peek from behind the boulder. They were still there, way below him now, grappling in mid-flight right above […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[176],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulinemross.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2276"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulinemross.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulinemross.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulinemross.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulinemross.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2276"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/paulinemross.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2276\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2278,"href":"https:\/\/paulinemross.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2276\/revisions\/2278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulinemross.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulinemross.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulinemross.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}